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New teachers hired at Wapakoneta City Schools

The hiring of three new teachers was approved Tuesday by Wapakoneta City Schools Board of Education members on the night of the first day of classes.

“They are already working,” Wapakoneta City Schools Superintendent Keith Horner said of the teachers approved by the district’s board members during the regular monthly meeting. “We are glad to have them on board.”

He said Danille Schmidt was hired late to teach kindergarten at Wapakoneta Elementary School due to high student numbers in kindergarten classrooms at the school.

“The kindergarten class grew, so we added another,” Horner said.

He said across the district, first-grade classes also are close to the ratio of 25 students per one teacher as required by contracts.

Schmidt, who has a master’s degree and is being hired at step zero on the salary schedule, is to make $36,923 per year.

Also approved by Board of Education members for hire were Amber Hoisington, a part-time special education teacher, and Kara Sextro, a part-time special education and math teacher, at Wapakoneta High School.

Hoisington, who has a master’s degree plus 18 hours and is at step three in the salary schedule, was hired at an annual salary of $13,901, while Sextro, who has a bachelor’s degree plus 150 hours and is at step zero on the salary schedule, is to receive an annual salary of $15,709.

The two part-time teachers are replacing one full-time teacher’s position, Horner said.

In other business, board members accepted a donation of $250 from Walmart to be applied to the general fund, and of $1,000 from Mercy Unlimited for school supplies.

Wapakoneta City Schools Treasurer Susan Rinehart said other donations from the community also were made for school supplies and on Monday they shopped for needed items based on building principals’ requests for students.

Horner thanked Wapakoneta City Schools Operations Director Mike Watt and a committee he created for their input in bus and walking routes approved for the district for the 2012-13 school year. Committee members are to address concerns about routes or stops, and the committee is comprised of two principals, Wapakoneta Transportation Supervisor Dave Tangeman, a bus driver and Watt.

“We listen to the concerns and then make a decision,” Watt said. “Some have been approved and some denied, but it’s been helpful to discuss them and see different perspectives.”

The committee was formed after some bus route complaints were made last year.

Wapakoneta City Schools Board of Education Member Ron Mertz thanked building staff members for the great job they did getting the schools ready for the new school year.

In personnel matters, board members approved:

• The retirement of Bea Reineke as a bus driver effective June 1. Horner wished her the best of luck and thanked her for driving a bus for the district for so many years.

• The disability retirement of Robin Kimmey effective Oct. 1.

• Aaron Stiger as junior class adviser at $1,980.

• Kristi Spencer as sophomore class adviser at $2,047.

• Bill Dellinger as freshman class adviser at $1,544.

• The resignation of Diane Place as a food service worker effective Aug. 20.

• The employment of Lisa Shroyer as a food service worker for a year at a pay rate of $10.43 per hour for 2.75 hours per day.

• The resignation of Sarah Gray from her half supplemental contract as varsity football cheerleading adviser and approved her instead as a volunteer.

• Amended supplemental contract to employ Shelley Koch as a football cheerleading adviser at 60 percent for $1,772 and Ashley Fuerst as a football cheerleading adviser at 40 percent for $913.

• Jennifer Brandehoff at a third position as middle school football cheerleading adviser for $492.

• Five substitute teachers, two substitute para-educators, a substitute secretary, and a substitute cafeteria worker for the 2012-13 school year.

Board members met in executive session for the appointment or employment of public employees or officials, with no action taken.